Tag: Cooking Techniques

Stay-at-Home Parenting and Beef and Red Pepper Stir-Fry

As a stay at home parent, there are a variety of ways to engage with our children while making sure we are providing nutritious meals that will nourish their growing bodies. One of the best ways to do this is to cook meals that are easy to make and that the kids can help with. One of my family’s favorite recipes is a beef and red pepper stir-fry. Not only is this dish healthy, but it can also be made quickly, leaving more time for fun activities with the kids.

When I was growing up, my mother used to make this dish for us almost every week. She would always tell us the story of how she first learned the recipe from her mother who was born in China. According to her story, her mother grew up in a small village in southern China where beef and red pepper stir-fry was a staple of their diet. My mother would always tell us that this dish was a way for her mother to practice her culture and traditions even when she was living in a new country.

My mother taught me this recipe when I was still living at home and since then I have been making it for my own family. This dish is not only delicious, but it also contains lots of healthy ingredients such as lean beef, fresh red peppers, scallions, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar and ginger.

Ingredients:
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 red pepper, chopped
• 2 scallions, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil

Instructions:
1) Heat the vegetable or canola oil in a large pan or wok over medium heat.
2) Add the ground beef to the pan and cook until it is no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat from the pan if necessary.
3) Add the red pepper, scallions and garlic to the pan and cook for another minute or two until they are softened.
4) Add the soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar and ginger to the pan and stir everything together until combined. Cook for another few minutes until everything is heated through.
5) Add salt and pepper to taste if desired. Serve over cooked rice or noodles and enjoy!

This dish has become one of my family’s go-to meals because it is both nutritious and easy to make. Not only do I get some quality time with my kids while cooking together, but I also know that I am providing them with a healthy meal that they will enjoy. The story behind this dish reminds me of my own childhood memories with my family while also paying homage to my mother’s culture – something that has been passed down through generations in our family. Try out this delicious beef and red pepper stir-fry recipe today – it’s sure to become one of your family’s favorites!